Genesis 31:1-13 ▼

1 Now Jacob used to listen while Laban's sons kept on complaining, |Jacob has taken over everything our father owns! He made himself wealthy from what belongs to our father!|

2 Jacob also noticed that the way Laban had been looking at him wasn't as nice as it had been just two days earlier.

3 Then the LORD ordered Jacob, |Go back to your father's territory and to your relatives. I'll be with you.|

4 Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah to come out to the field where his flock was

5 and informed them, |I've noticed that the way your father has been looking at us hasn't been as nice as it was just two days ago. But my father's God has been with me.

6 You know I've been serving your father with all my heart.

7 Even so, your father has cheated me. He broke our wage agreement ten times. However, God didn't allow him to harm me.

8 |When Laban said, 'The speckled ones will be your wages,' then all the flock gave birth to speckled ones. Then when he said, 'The streaked ones will be your wages,' all the flock gave birth to streaked offspring.

9 |So God has taken away your father's livestock and has given them to me.

10 As it was, when it was time for the livestock to breed, I once looked up in a dream, and the male goats that were mating with the flock were producing streaked, speckled, and spotted offspring.

11 |Later, the angel of God spoke to me in a dream, 'Jacob.' |'Here I am,' I replied

12 |'Look around!' he said. 'Go ahead, look! All the male goats have been mating with the flock, producing offspring that are streaked, speckled, and spotted, because I've been watching everything that Laban has done to you.

13 I am the God of Bethel, the place where you consecrated that stone and made a vow to me. Now get up, leave this territory, and return to your native land.'|